Whittaker experienced the intensity of a Glasgow duel in his time at Rangers and the Scottish international is under no illusions what is at stake when Neil Adams’ squad head to Portman Road on August 23.

The 27-year-old is taking a step into the unknown with his first season in the second tier after operating exclusively in the top flight north and south of the border.

“I’ve only seen it from the outside in my career but it is something I am going to relish. I’m looking on it as a challenge and a new experience for me,” he said. “There are a lot of good teams. Not just the promoted sides but Wigan and Blackburn are big clubs and Derby did ever so well last season. For me, there will be seven or eight teams all thinking the same and we have to make sure we stay one step ahead of them.

“I know the Ipswich match is the fifth of the season. I made a point of looking up that one so I know it comes early and the guys who have been here a while have already spoken about that. We are all looking forward to that as well.”

Whittaker has endured a stop, start spell with the Canaries since cutting his ties with Rangers but the defender has no regrets about leaving Ibrox.

“Obviously what happened with Rangers at that time has been well-documented,” he said. “I knew I could do better than playing in the Scottish third division and I didn’t want to spend three years of my career trying to come back up the leagues. Norwich offered me the challenge to come south and I have actually enjoyed it. I still have two years here so I am looking forwards to what we can achieve.

“The first year I was here I was hampered by injuries, the second I was fine. I trained all of the season but I just didn’t get the games so obviously when you want to play and you don’t that is a disappointment. I am used to playing a lot more than I did last season when I was up in Scotland. All I can do is put myself in a position where I am pushing to be in contention and when I get a chance it is up to me to make sure I can’t be edged out of the team.”

Should be a good old-fashioned hard game of football , roared on from the stands .
Oh , to travel the A 140 , at a stately 49mph , admiring the hedges festooned with unfurled hurled bog roll
And those well remembered waymarks , sad and lonely bypassed Dickleburgh , Tacelston masts , and Stun'em Magpie , signposting our trip to glory .
Hopefully .

Mattias, i found my way onto here when i searched for most recent news on rangers. The site i go onto gives everything including news on former players and the article on shittaker appeared so i had a look. Good luck to ur team this season, hope uz get promoted (after you ditch ur fullback to the conference or scottish lower leagues)

Still amazes me how many non NCFC fans find there way onto this board. nothing against others fans coming here, all welcome but how does a rangers fan find himself ranting on an EDP website about a former fullback of theirs. Anyway i've got to dash, I need to log onto the local Brondby newspaper site and rant about Johan Elmander.

Aye, well documented! You turned your back, you and your wee pal from everton. Dont kid yourself that you were too good- you were a liabilty- rotten in defence and not good enough going forward. Remember templeton ripping u apart??? Norwich fans will see you for what you are this season rhen you will end up in the conference or back at hibs - while we are back in champions league!

Maybe he was born in Nigeria and nobody actually knows his real birthday, not even him. ;) On a topic related note, ITFC are going to be so fired up for this one. Last one they couldnt even sell all their home area tickets. You wouldnt get that from NCFC fans at Carrow Road for a Derby game.

So the "27 year-old" Whittaker was a mere stripling of 15 when he made his Hibernian debut in 2002. Or, could it be that he`s really 30 (his 30th birthday last month) and he`s been on a youth programme? Perhaps he was 27 when he believed himself to be a "free agent" after the Rangers debacle, but he`d turned 28 when he signed for us. Unlike comic-strip characters, real people do get older, Paddy. Must try harder.

Stay fit Whitts and you'll have a chance of being a stalwart in the back 4 this season .......... just don't underestimate the Old Farm derby game .......... this is a massive game, bigger than you think .......... c'mon City, OTBC

Stay fit Whitts and you'll have a chance of being a stalwart in the back 4 this season .......... just don't underestimate the Old Farm derby game .......... this is a massive game, bigger than you think .......... c'mon City, OTBC